Question
A boat travels 30 km downstream in 2 hours and the same
distance upstream in 5 hours. Find the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the stream.Solution
Downstream speed = 30/2 = 15 km/h Upstream speed = 30/5 = 6 km/h Let boat speed in still water = u, stream speed = v. u + v = 15 u β v = 6 Add: 2u = 21 β u = 10.5 km/h Then v = 15 β 10.5 = 4.5 km/h Answer: Boat speed = 10.5 km/h, stream speed = 4.5 km/h.